Compare towns
Milton vs Peru vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Westford has the most people working from home (19.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Milton | Peru | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
6,710 |
2,290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5 7% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Milton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257 9% above U.S. |
$1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610 80% above U.S. |
$4,357Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #56 of 70 in VT | #347 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Milton School District | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.